They joined White Helmets to save souls. Now they're saving history
The White Helmets, Syria's most renowned rescue organisation, have been tasked with protecting the country's cultural heritage from damage by looting, neglect, explosives and natural hazards.
Part of the Fertile Crescent, Syria's location at the juncture of three continents has bestowed it with one of the richest and most diverse archaeological legacies in the world, dating back more than 10,000 years to the earliest roots of civilisation. Much of that legacy, however, is under threat — menaced by the legacy of war, the natural environment and human actors.
Now, in a landmark agreement with the new government in Damascus, the White Helmets will begin a two-year mission to survey and safeguard sites of archaeological and cultural significance, including the citadel at Aleppo, the ruined city
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Dan Snow & The Lost City: Like the foggy view, Dan Snow's trip to Machu Picchu is a damp squib
Dan Snow & The Lost City (Channel 5) The fabled Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru is apparently the wettest place in South America. It certainly was on the day Dan Snow visited. Panting for breath, nearly 8,000ft up in the Andes, the historian and his camera crew found themselves engulfed by mists. Every time it looked as though we were going to get a glimpse of the jagged mountain landscapes, on Dan Snow & The Lost City, another layer of cloud swept in. Dan was forced during one deluge to take cover in a restored Inca house with a thatched roof. Rain was pouring off the straw, coming down in a curtain of water. It occured to me that Machu Picchu ought to be twinned with Britain's soggiest city, Cardiff. But, when I looked it up, the reality was even stranger — the Inca capital's twin town is Haworth in Yorkshire, home of the Brontë sisters. Well, they are both Wuthering Heights. Emily, Charlotte and Anne B all had a taste for the macabre, and would have enjoyed Dan's discovery of a 500-year-old Inca corpse, frozen in ice. The victim was a 13-year-old girl, a human sacrifice. Archaeologists believe she was raised in luxury, before being ritually killed with a blow to the head and her body placed on a mountaintop as a gift to the gods. The extreme cold preserved her hair, clothes and skin — 'literally frozen in time,' Dan pointed out. Helping museum curators to weigh her remains, checking that she was not decaying while on display under glass, Dan was first fascinated and then repulsed. 'That was one of the most intense experiences I've ever had,' he mused. 'I kept thinking, why would a family willingly give up the most precious thing in the world, one of their own children? It's just very difficult for us to understand today.' It's a poignant question, but one he did not attempt to answer. Instead of scratching his head, he could have sought out anthropologists to help us make sense of how human sacrifice was viewed by these ancient people. Was it an honour, or just one more of life's cruelties? The same lack of depth marred his visit to a local cook named Elena and her mother, both Inca descendants, where he tried the traditional cuisine. The women were wearing tall white stovepipe hats with black ribbons, but Dan didn't ask whether their Inca ancestors might have worn the same style. He did, however, inform us that his own wide-brimmed fedora was a tribute to Indiana Jones. Then he tucked into a bowl of freeze-dried potato soup, washed down with chicha beer made from maize (or, as we call it, sweetcorn). The potatoes looked like shrivelled chestnuts and the beer like a rancid milkshake. But how did it taste? Dan didn't think to tell us. We could have learned so much more. But, like the foggy view, this show wasn't nearly as spectacular as it could have been.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Structures partially collapse at Pompeii archaeological site after earthquake
A minor earthquake in southern Italy has led to damage to structures within the Pompeii archaeological site. Officials confirmed on Thursday that a wall and a vault had partially collapsed. The quake, measuring 3.2 in magnitude, is the latest in a series of tremors originating near the Campi Flegrei super volcano, not far from Naples. The affected section of Pompeii had previously sustained damage during a major earthquake in 1980. Restoration work had been carried out since. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the site's director, said that inspections are underway to ascertain whether other areas have been affected by the quake. No injuries were reported in the shake. The damaged structure did not house any frescoes or movable relics. Pompeii was famously destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The wealthy town, which was home to between 10,000 and 20,000 people, was largely preserved underneath a thick layer of volcanic ash. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it 'provides a complete picture of an ancient Roman city'.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Folklore comes alive in Germany's ‘fairytale' city
When a bronze statue of a donkey, dog, cat and rooster is one of a city's most photographed landmarks, it should come as no surprise that it takes its storytelling seriously. As the northern gateway to the German Fairytale Route, the river-straddling city of Bremen has long been steeped in myth and lore – but 2025 is its time to truly shine. Marking the 50th anniversary of the legendary Route, Bremen is throwing open its medieval gates to welcome visitors into a world where folklore comes alive in cobbled lanes, pixelated forests and theatrical cathedral squares. Once a proud Hanseatic hub on the Weser River, Bremen may lack the instant name recognition of Berlin or Munich, but it has something rarer: a deep sense of magic threaded through its architecture, culture and soul. This is, after all, the city where the Brothers Grimm's beloved 'Town Musicians of Bremen' tale is more than just a bedtime story – it's a city-wide invitation to step into an enchanted world. The German Fairytale Route, established in 1975, stretches some 600km from Hanau (the Grimm brothers' birthplace) in central Germany all the way to Bremen in the north. It passes through storybook towns like Marburg, Kassel and Hamelin – the latter famously plagued by a flute-playing Pied Piper. But Bremen, where the route ends (or begins, depending on your direction), offers a kind of finale that rewards travellers with a satisfying mix of whimsy, wonder and historical gravitas. Throughout 2025, the city is celebrating its starring role on the route with a packed programme of myth-tinged events. Among the highlights is the Stadtmusikantenspiel, a lively Sunday lunchtime performance held in the shadow of Bremen Cathedral. From May through to December, this musical reimagining of the city's famed animal quartet brings the fairytale to life in the very square where its story is immortalised in bronze. Elsewhere, a special anniversary walking tour delves into both Grimm folklore and Bremen's own mythic foundations – like the legend of the fishermen who followed a hen and her chicks to settle on the Weser, symbolising freedom and laying the city's foundations. Their tale is immortalised in stone on the Town Hall arcade – a blink-and-you'll-miss-it nugget of urban folklore waiting to be rediscovered. A walk through the past (and pixelated present) Bremen wears its fairytales on its sleeve, but the charm doesn't stop at statues and stories. Stroll through the Altstadt (Old Town), and you'll find half-timbered houses, Gothic spires and grand merchant halls that whisper of a prosperous past. The Unesco-listed Town Hall is an architectural gem from the Weser Renaissance era, standing proudly beside the Roland statue – a symbol of civic freedom dating back to 1404. Modern-day magic arrives in the form of Pixelwald Wisera, a dazzling new installation in the Kunsthalle Bremen art gallery. Step inside, and you're transported into a glowing pixel forest – an immersive experience that feels halfway between enchanted woodland and digital dreamscape. It's an unexpected but oddly fitting tribute to the city's blend of tradition and innovation. For families and digital natives, the BremenGo app animates the famous Musicians of Bremen in 3D across the city. Think Pokémon GO, but with more donkeys and fewer battles. Meanwhile, the Stadtmusikantenexpress boat trip offers a breezy way to explore Bremen's sights while soaking up stories of mythical beasts, musical dreams, and Bremen's colourful history along the Weser. What to see and do No trip to Bremen is complete without paying homage to the statue of the Musicians of Bremen. Located beside the Town Hall, the sculpture has become a touchstone for good fortune – quite literally. Legend has it that holding the donkey's front leg brings luck, though only with your right hand. (Left, apparently, does nothing. This is fairytale science.) Wander a little further and you'll hit the Schnoorviertel, Bremen's oldest quarter, where centuries-old fishermen's houses lean inwards like gossiping neighbours. Today, it's a tangle of boutique galleries, artisan shops and cosy cafés. Stop by for a marzipan pastry or browse for handmade trinkets that wouldn't look out of place in a Grimm tale. For a more serene slice of the city, head to the Bürgerpark – 200 acres of manicured greenery that offers a welcome pause from the cobbles. And if it's myths and legends you're after, don't miss Böttcherstraße, a striking Art Deco alleyway filled with history, eccentric architecture and an air of the unexpected. How to do it Bremen is compact and walkable, making it an ideal weekend break. Most attractions are within easy reach of the Altstadt, and the city's efficient tram network makes venturing further a breeze. With its beguiling mix of myth, history and modern creativity, Bremen is ready to surprise. This is a place where fairytales aren't confined to books, but written in stone, sung in public squares, and animated into the very air around you. And in this special anniversary year, the magic is more alive than ever. Essentials Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted to Bremen from £49 return. Lufthansa operates flights from London Heathrow to Bremen via Frankfurt from £129 return. Stylish, central and brimming with character – just like the city itself – Hotel Classico (0049 421 2440 0867) is located steps from the Town Hall and Musicians of Bremen statue. Doubles from £110 per night, including breakfast.
